How to Make a Saddle Shoe Christmas Stocking

Even Ol' Blue Eyes himself would be impressed with this kitschy bobby sock Christmas stocking. Spin some old Rat Pack tunes and decorate the fireplace '50s-style.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Preparing Your Materials

1. Buy 1 yard of sturdy, flesh-colored fabric; two squares of white felt; one square of black or brown felt; a pair of bobby socks; and one black or brown shoelace.
2. Begin the pattern by drawing a leg and foot in profile on a piece of paper. The leg should stop just below the knee.
3. Draw a saddle shoe in profile on a separate piece of paper. The shoe should be about 12 inches long, 2 inches high at the toe and 5 inches high at the ankle. (The shoe, when sewn, will be slipped over the leg.)
4. Draw a second line 5/8 inch outside the perimeters of your two patterns.
5. Pin your leg and foot pattern to a double layer of flesh-colored fabric and cut out the fabric.
6. Pin the shoe pattern to a double layer of white felt and cut out the shoe.
7. Unpin the shoe pattern and cut the saddle shapes out of the paper shoe.
8. Take the new pattern for the saddles, pin onto a double layer of the dark felt, and cut out the shapes.
9. Cut another strip of dark felt 1/2 inch wide and 5 inches high.
10. Cut an additional piece of flesh-colored fabric 4 inches long and 2 inches wide.

Assembling the Stocking

11. Pin the flesh-colored leg pieces right sides together.
12. Stitch along the circumference of the stocking, 1/2 inch from the edges, beginning at the top of one side of the leg.
13. Sew another seam 1/8 inch outside the first seam.
14. Fold the top edge down 1/4 inch and then fold it over 1/4 inch again. Stitch in place.
15. Take the remaining strip of flesh-colored fabric (2 by 4 inches), fold one long edge over 1/4 inch and iron into place.
16. Fold the piece in thirds lengthwise, tucking the raw edges inside.
17. Iron and sew into place along the edge of the fabric.
18. Fold the fabric strip in half to make a loop; pin and sew to the wrong side of the top rear edge of the stocking.
19. Ease the curves of the stocking by cutting the seam allowance fabric perpendicularly toward the seam.
20. Turn the stocking right side out.
21. Cut off everything except 1/2 inch of the bobby sock below the ankle cuff.
22. Stretch the cuff by pulling hard and slide it over the foot of the stocking up to the ankle.

Making the Shoe

23. Stack the white shoe pieces and pin them together. Stitch along the outside of the shoe, 1/2 inch in from the edge. Make sure to leave an opening for the foot.
24. Turn right side out and slide the shoe onto the foot of the stocking.
25. Stack the saddle pieces together. At the lowest part of the saddle where it meets the sole, sew the two pieces together, leaving the remaining edges unsewn. The saddle then forms a sling and will be pulled up on either side of the shoe with the laces.
26. Use a large, sharp needle or an ice pick to make a few holes at the top of the saddle for lacing.
27. Lace the saddle pieces together over the shoe and secure in place with a few drops of glue.
28. Glue the remaining strip of dark felt (1/2 by 5 inches) to the back of the shoe, covering the center seam that extends from the sole to the ankle.
29. Arrange the cuff of the bobby sock so that it reaches just to the top of the shoe and secure in place with a few drops of glue.

Tips & Warnings

• If you or a friend has a saddle shoe, lay it on the paper and draw around it to make your basic shoe pattern.
• Play with the pattern until you're satisfied. Remember, the defining characteristics of a saddle shoe are the two-tone coloring, a curved toe and a sturdy 3/4-inch heel.
• Don't worry too much about the shape of the foot made out of the flesh-colored fabric. It won't matter since it will be hidden inside the saddle shoe.
• The stocking should look pretty large when you cut it out. Otherwise, when it's assembled it will be too narrow for stocking stuffers.
• Be sure to leave the top of the stocking open.
• The bobby sock will be secured later once the rest of the shoe is attached.
• Be careful not to clip the stitching when you cut into the seam allowance.
• The saddle pieces are not sewn onto the white shoe, but tied around it.

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